Culture & Lifestyle • Religion

Yakub (Nation of Islam)

Yakub, also spelled Yacub or Yaqub, is a figure in the mythology of the Nation of Islam and related offshoots.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Yakub, also spelled Yacub or Yaqub, is a figure in the mythology of the Nation of Islam and related offshoots. In NOI doctrine, he is described as a black scientist from Mecca who created the white race through selective breeding. The story is a religious teaching within the movement and is not supported by mainstream historical or scientific evidence.

Origins in Nation of Islam teaching

Yakub appears in the cosmology of the Nation of Islam and its offshoots. Sources describe him as a foundational figure in the movement’s account of human origins and racial difference.

Narrative of creation

In NOI doctrine, Yakub is said to have discovered a law of attraction and repulsion and used selective breeding to create white people. The story says this process occurred on Patmos and continued after his death.

Some accounts identify Yakub with Jacob, the biblical figure, based on the Arabic name Yaqub. This interpretation appears in secondary explanations of the doctrine rather than in mainstream Jewish, Christian, or Islamic theology.

Reception and controversy

The Yakub story has been controversial because it presents a racial creation narrative that is rejected outside the Nation of Islam. It is commonly discussed in the context of NOI beliefs, Malcolm X’s writings, and critiques of the movement.

Key facts

Yakub is a figure in Nation of Islam theology and is presented as part of its origin story.
The doctrine describes him as a black Meccan scientist who lived about 6,600 years ago.
According to the story, he created the white race through a process called 'grafting' or selective breeding.
The narrative places the process on the island of Patmos and says his followers continued it after his death.
The story is treated as mythology within the Nation of Islam and is not accepted as historical fact by mainstream scholarship.

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Canadian context

The topic is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through the study of religion, race, and African diaspora religious movements. It may also come up in discussions of Islam in Canada and the history of the Nation of Islam’s influence.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Yakub in the Nation of Islam?

Yakub is a mythological figure in Nation of Islam teaching, described as the scientist who created the white race.

Is Yakub considered a historical person?

No verified historical evidence supports Yakub as a real person; the account is part of NOI mythology.

How is Yakub said to have created white people?

The doctrine says he used selective breeding, often called 'grafting,' over many generations.

Where is the story of Yakub set?

The narrative places him in Mecca and on the island of Patmos.

How old was Yakub said to be when he died?

The commonly cited NOI version says he died at age 150.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
Supports: Core description of Yakub in Nation of Islam doctrine, including the black Meccan scientist narrative, Patmos setting, grafting, and age at death.
Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
Supports: Alternative spelling, identification of Yakub as a figure in NOI beliefs, and the association with Jacob/Yaqub.
Wikipedia — https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
Supports: Summary of the doctrine, including selective breeding, Patmos, and the note that the story lacks historical and scientific evidence.
Columbia University — https://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/mxp/people/728.html
Supports: Description of Yakub in NOI teachings, including the 'big-headed black scientist' account and the selective breeding narrative.